Leah's Birth Story

Leah's birth was long and scary and uncomfortable and painful. But it was also awesome and amazing and I never want to forget it. Not how I felt, not even the worst parts. I do my best to remember it here, and to censor it the best I can, although many of the details are already up for debate.

October 9th, 8:00pm

I literally pranced into the hospital. 40 weeks pregnant and as mobile as I could be. Also full of plenty of excitement and nervousness. The plan was to start me on cytotec- medicine that would help me start dilating. I would have another dose every four hours until my body started labor on its own or I was dilated enough for pitocin.

Heading to the hospital

A birthday party? My favorite!

My body had other ideas. The monitors showed that I was already having contractions- intense and long ones at that (some lasting well over 10 minutes!). They couldn't start meds until my body chilled out for fear of stressing the baby, so we waited.

Getting hooked up

11:00pm

I was given a first dose of cytotec, but never any subsequent ones. We know my external monitors were not working super well, but it also appeared that the baby didn't appreciate the eviction notice. I was on and off oxygen throughout the night to maintain the baby's heart rate. 

Talking with Sara

October 10th, 10:00am

At two centimeters dilated I wasn't quite where they preferred me before trying pitocin, but they went ahead and did it anyways. The baby had a similar response as to the cytotec so I was off within the hour. 

2:45pm

After a long day of waiting and "intense" contractions (these are intense? I can totally do this, no problem!), my water broke when the nurse checked to see if I was any more dilated. We had been waiting for the doctor to do this so that I could have the more accurate internal monitors placed, but turns out we didn't need no stinkin' doctor!  They restarted pitocin and with the internal monitors we had a much more accurate reading of the baby's heart rate and the intensity of my contractions. Oh, and those contractions hurt!

Contractions pre-breaking of water

Contractions post-breaking of water

4:30pm

My mom made it to Las Vegas and as I was puking the lining of my empty stomach into a bucket, she came into my room laughing. "I did the same thing when I was in labor with you! <insert chuckles>". Thanks, Mom.

6:15pm

The anesthesiologist was on my floor and I was ready to talk. I had already convinced myself that an epidural would not be possible, but if he wanted to talk to me I was more than willing to listen! Right before the nurse went to get him, her face dropped. Brian and I both noticed, and she points to the monitor readings and asks, "did you see that?" Baby's heart rate dropped rapidly and hopped right back up which, according to our nurse is generally an indicator of reaching 10 centimeters dilated. She checked me, and sure enough... So much for the anesthesiologist!

6:30pm

Totally guessing on the time here, but everything was ready to go. Let the pushing commence!

Because of the timing- shift change at 7:00- the doctor and a room full of nurses were in there from the beginning. It was a pretty steady hour and a half: push, push, push, oxygen on, watch a few seconds of the Detroit/Oakland baseball game, oxygen off, repeat.

8:20pm

Modified discussion-

Dr. S: "Do you want to use a vacuum?"

Me: "Yes. My legs are about to detach from my hips."

8:21pm

"It's a girl!"

Leah Francine was born, blue as a blueberry with her umbilical cord wrapped tightly around her neck. NICU nurses were on call, but thankfully she recovered quickly and passed her second Apgar with flying colors (blue not being one of them).

We are so happy she is here and love her more than the world!

Happy "Not-My-Bris" Day

Today is Leah's "Not-My-Bris" Day. With that, a week 1 recap in pictures:

Meeting Aunt Sara

Committing to ASU

Ride home from the hospital

Meeting brother Johnny 

Mommy snuggles

Snoozing with Dad

Meeting my Daddy- still awaiting his grandpa name!

Rockin' the ducks- Brian's favorite picture

Oh you know, we just got locked out on our second walk ever

Sweet dreams, my Leah

More snuggles with Mommy

Hey Sweet Eyes

First bow!

We miss you, Daddy! 

Leah Francine

Leah Francine Aronson

October 10, 2013

8:21pm

7lbs 10oz

18.5in

We are so happy she is here!

Birth story and week 1 recap coming soon...

40(!) Weeks

October 9th. October 9th. OCTOBER 9th. October 9th.  TODAY.

TODAY

For eight months- ever since I took a positive pregnancy test in very early February- I have repeated this day over and over in my head, outloud, on calendars and lists and forms everywhere. And now it's now. 

Yesterday at my 40 week appointment, we scheduled an induction. Meds begin at 8:00pm tonight. But instead of spending today trying to comprehend everything that is going to happen starting tonight, I'm going to try to spend today remembering the last nine months.

How lucky I have been to have spent 40 weeks with my baby. Too many friends spend only 5, 6, 7 weeks with their babies and never meet them. Others carry their babies for 26, 34, 36 weeks and spend many more weeks waiting to start life together at home. Pregnancy certainly has had it's positives and negatives, but I know I am lucky. 

One of the scariest things about moving to Las Vegas was the timing. We moved at the start of my third trimester. I quickly choose a doctor, hospital because I had to. We have no family here, no friends. In the 13.5 weeks since, I believe being pregnant is what has made the move and meeting people so seamless. I have made multiple friends (yes, actual friends!), all of whom are pregnant. We are memorable when we go places; people want to talk to the tall redhead and his very pregnant wife. It's a conversation starter! All the Bubbes at our new synagogue are on edge waiting to make us casseroles and kugel whenever we want it. We've promised the staff there they are on our list of people to let know of news of the baby. 

I love feeling the baby move. I think that's what I'll miss most when the baby is here. I hate sleeping on my side. I know that's what I'll miss least when the baby is here. 

Johnny has changed so much in the past nine months. I'm not sure if it's attributable to me being pregnant, our move, or him simply growing up, but I honestly don't need an explanation... As long as it continues. He's becoming such  a sweet, sweet boy. I mean, we are actually friends (let's be real, he's my best friend 'round here). I can't wait to see him with the baby, and I will always remember how far the "kid" has come.

Me and My Bestie

Not sure when my next post will be. You may get random ones from the hospital, or it may be weeks. I'll be sure to share news and pictures in one way or another as soon as we have them.

Going to snuggle my puppy and watch the TODAY Show before I take the pup to be boarded and things change for good!

(Not even being 9 months pregnant will keep me out of my Kansas sweatpants!)

Cravings

Sonic Blast WITH Whipped Cream, please

Late night run to Sonic to satisfy a whipped cream craving... Of my extremely sweet and clearly pregnancy-sympathetic husband.

Sing, Sing a Song

Songs we have been singing today (with links for your enjoyment):

1) "Take me ou-oooot tonight/ I wanna go ou-oooot tonight" -Rent

2) "Come on pretty baby/ Put your little hand in mine/ Things are shakin' on the dance floor/ Everybody's feelin' fine/ Don't waste another minute/ Step into the light/ Come on and dance with me tonight" -That Thing You Do

3) "Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?/ Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day/ The sun is up, the sky is blue/ It's beautiful, and so are you/ Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?" -Beatles, Across the Universe

You get my drift...

A-S-U!

When ASU scores, Sparky does one push-up for each of the team's total points.

Sparky

I'm doing one jumping jack for each push-up.  I told you, trying whatever I can to meet this kid!

Jumping jack update #1:

ASU 3 ND 0

Just made me need to pee.

Jumping jack update #2:

ASU 6 ND 0

More pee. Maybe a Braxton Hicks contraction in there.

Jumping jack update #3:

ASU 13 ND 7

Haven't done this much jumping in 9 months. Getting my heart rate up in preparation for labor. 

Jumping jack update #4:

ASU 20 ND 24

My "jumping" was a little too uncomfortable, so I changed to bouncy dance steps with jumping jack arms.

Jumping jack update #5:

ASU 27 ND 27

Bouncy dance steps with jumping jack arms are much better. Also, gotta pee. 

Jumping jack update #6:

ASU 34 ND 37

0:11 seconds left- I wasn't counting on another score.

103 "jumping jacks" later...

No win, and no labor. Oh well, at least, as of last night, it's officially KU basketball season!

Pay Heed All Who Enter, Beware the PHOG